. >> on friday's washington journal -- next, the countdown to the fiscal cliff. >> it is straight forward, comprehensive, and it does not have someone introjecting. that is what i appreciate. if you are looking to come -- to become more familiar with how government works, c-span. >> c-span is brought to you by a -- as a public service. >> without action, the fiscal cliff would go into effect on january 1. tax reductions and cuts in federal spending john boehner was called on to call the house back in session. later, the house will return sunday at 2:00 p.m. eastern. >> a pro-forma session is a session without substance and solutions. america is looking to its congress for both. it is certainly looking to congress to be working. i said everywhere i go, people ask me and urge me with hope in their voices, "i hope you are working on that fiscal cliff," "i hope you are getting the situation that we are not going over the fiscal cliff." sadly, i have to tell them that we are not there, we are not here, we are not working. every democrat, every republican ought to be here. the speaker ought to